Crime
23-year-old Lance Morales wanted for the murder of Jessiah Mercado and her 4-month-old son, Messiah Diaz
Police warned that he might also have access to other vehicles.
Hartford police are urgently searching for a man considered armed and extremely dangerous following a devastating shooting Tuesday afternoon that claimed the lives of a 20-year-old Massachusetts woman and her infant son.
The tragedy unfolded around 2:30 p.m. on New Britain Avenue, near Hillside Avenue and Zion Street.
According to investigators, a vehicle pulled up alongside the victimsโ car and opened fire before speeding away.
The victims, identified as Jessiah Mercado, 20, and her 4-month-old son, Messiah Diaz, both from Springfield, Massachusetts, were rushed to the hospital but tragically succumbed to their injuries.
A third victim, a man in his 20s, sustained a gunshot wound but is expected to recover. The driver of the victims’ car was not injured.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 23-year-old Lance “Macho” Morales, whose last known address is in Waterbury, Connecticut.
Morales is believed to have fled the scene in a white Infiniti Q-70 bearing Massachusetts license plate 3NEB35.
Police warned that he might also have access to other vehicles.
Preliminary investigations suggest the shooting stemmed from a dispute over a vehicle.
Interim Police Chief Kenny Howell issued a direct plea to Morales, saying, “Lance, you have no other option but to hand yourself in to the Hartford Police Department for the horrific crimes you have committed. You have taken the lives of an infant and his mother. We do not tolerate that in this city.”
The Hartford Police Department is urging anyone with information about Moralesโ whereabouts to contact them immediately. This tragic case remains under active investigation.
Crime
Greenville County Murder-Suicide: Chloe Jade Brown and Dreak Wright Dead After Elmwood Avenue Shooting
GREENVILLE, South Carolina โ A fatal shooting at a home on Elmwood Avenue in Greenville County claimed the lives of a man and a woman on Tuesday evening, October 13, 2026.
The victims have been identified in information shared with the public as Chloe Jade Brown, a young mother, and Dreak Wright. The incident has been described as a suspected murder-suicide.
The Greenville County Sheriffโs Office said deputies were called to Elmwood Avenue before 9 p.m. after receiving a report of a shooting.
Upon arrival, they found a man and a woman who had both sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
According to the supplied account, Wright allegedly shot Brown before taking his own life. The identities and sequence of events should be treated as reported information until confirmed by authorities.
Chloe Jade Brown has been remembered by friends and loved ones as a caring mother and a bright presence in their lives.
Following news of the deadly incident, tributes expressed grief over her death and concern for the children she leaves behind. Those mourning her have offered prayers for her children, family and everyone affected by the tragedy.
The loss of a mother has prompted particular concern for the childrenโs well-being and the emotional support they may need as they cope with their loss.
Some people sharing tributes to Brown alleged that she had experienced domestic violence. However, the information available does not independently confirm those claims or establish whether domestic violence played a role in the shooting.
Authorities have not provided further details in the supplied report about the circumstances leading up to the incident, the relationship between the victims or any previous reports of domestic disputes.
These details should be verified before being presented as established facts.
Deputies with the Greenville County Sheriffโs Office responded to the Elmwood Avenue residence before 9 p.m. Tuesday. They found both victims dead from gunshot wounds, according to the agencyโs initial account.
The incident has been described as a murder-suicide in the supplied information, but additional official confirmation is needed regarding the sequence of events and the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The tragedy has left friends and loved ones mourning both individuals, while tributes to Brown have highlighted the impact her death will have on her children.